A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hodgson, Brian
HODGSON. (Rear-Admiral of the Red, 1838. f-p., 27; h-p., 33.)
Brian Hodgson entered the Navy, in 1787, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Salisbury 50, Capt. Erasmus Gower, on the Newfoundland station, where he continued until 1789. From 13 Dec. 1794 until Oct. 1802 he served uninterruptedly with Capt. Edw. Jas. Foote in the Niger 32, and Seahorse, of 46 guns and 292 men; in the former of which ships he assisted, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, at the capture of a French convoy, near Granville, 9 May, 1795 – the destruction, 27 April, 1796, off the Penmarcks, of L’Ecureuil national corvette, of 18 guns and 105 men – and the battle off Cape St. Vincent 14 Feb. 1797. When in the Seahorse, of which frigate he was created a Lieutenant 11 Dec. 1799, Mr. Hodgson, besides witnessing the capture of Le Belliqueux privateer, of 18 guns and 120 men, was present, off the island of Pantellaria, at the taking, 27 June, 1798, after a close action of eight minutes, a loss to the British of 2 men killed and 16 wounded, and to the enemy of 18 killed and 37 wounded, of the French frigate La Sensible, of 36 guns and 300 men. In 1799, during the absence of Lord Nelson, we find the Seahorse blockading the Bay of Naples; and, in July of the same year, escorting their Sicilian Majesties from Palermo to the latter place. Being shortly afterwards driven on shore in a violent gale near Leghorn, she was under the necessity, from the injuries she received, of returning to England, whence, in May, 1800, she was again ordered to the Mediterranean with Rear-Admiral Sir Rich. Bickerton and Sir Ralph Abercromby on board. During the ensuing summer she was employed in attendance upon the King and Queen off Weymouth; after which she was sent in escort of 10 sail of Indiamen to Calcutta. While on the Indian station her officers and crew succeeded by great exertion in rescuing the stores of La Sensible, a frigate that had been wrecked a few miles to the southward of the Molliwally shoal. The Seahorse being paid off in Oct. 1802, Mr. Hodgson was next, in Jan. 1805, appointed to the Topaze 38, Capt. Willoughby Thos. Lake, on the Cork station, where he remained until appointed, in Jan. 1805, Flag-Lieutenant to Lord Gardner, in the Hibernia 110, part of the Channel fleet. He obtained his second promotal commission on 8 of the following April; and, on 22 Jan. 1806, after having commanded, for very short periods, the Inspector and Pylades sloops, he was made Post into the Trusty 50. In that ship, in Aug. 1807, he accompanied the expedition sent against Copenhagen. He left her in May, 1809, and was lastly, in April, 1810, and July, 1811, appointed to the command of the Barbadoes 24, and Owen Glendower 42, both on the East India station. The latter ship returned to England in May, 1816; and, on 28 June, 1838, her Captain was advanced to Flag-rank.
Rear-Admiral Hodgson, who has issue, was left a widower 11 Nov. 1824. Agent – J. Hinxman.